Isn't it ironic to use a REST API to send BTC vs say using what any cryptocurrency is intended for? To use their native APIs to transfer value. The aim of decentralization is to eliminate that third party but this puts it back. We've come full circle.
A better wording would be that the aim of decentralization is the option to eliminate the third party. If someone wants to use a third party to transact then he should have the freedom to do so. Similarly, if someone wants to transact with another party directly then this should also be allowed.
The idea "everyone should be their own bank" is a great idea, and most should endeavor to do that, but it fails often for a variety of legal and regulatory reasons.
Suppose you are a company, with a myriad of shareholders, do you: (a) Setup a crypto wallet and give Frank and Bill the keys, or (b) Outsource to reputable 3rd party.
I can tell you which your shareholders would prefer.
To learn, and for myself and friends to use. Vague question.
I want the Lightning network to be the BTC solution to transaction throughput and privacy, but I don't know that it is. Figure best way to find out is to get my hands dirty.
I don't this is ironic. I think this is a pretty cynical attempt at wrapping the "Coinbase platform" around more layers of crypto than they already had.
Middlemen have to middle, that’s the model of a middleman. As long as they provide some perceived value over the same without middlemen they will be profitable. In this case, coinbase abstracts crypto away from technically illiterate who want to ride the crypto wave without learning the technicals.
